Your presence is urgently needed tomorrow morning to block an effort in Kansas City, MO, to pass an ordinance that would make it a crime for young people to be in a public place during public school hours. If you live in Kansas City, or ever plan to visit there with your children, we need your help!

The city council's Public Safety Committee is expected to vote on a daytime curfew ordinance tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10:30.

Daytime curfews never live up to their promises. And they hurt homeschool families more than others because we allow our children free time while public schools are in session.

Homeschoolers have been harassed and frightened by policemen who treat them like suspected criminals for doing nothing more than being in public.

ACTION REQUESTED

If you live in Kansas City--or ever plan to visit there with children--please stand up for freedom by attending the meeting tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. A big crowd will send a powerful message about freedom!

Parking is challenging. Leave plenty of time to find a parking space. Consider carpooling with friends.

This is not a good setting for small children who need a diaper bag or stroller. Be courteous and polite at all times. You may feel angry or outraged about this threat to freedom--but it's very important to express yourself with self control.

The meeting will take place on the 26th floor of City Hall, 414 East 12th St., Kansas City, MO. No knives, pepper spray, etc., may be brought into the building.

BACKGROUND:

1. Daytime curfews do not deter juvenile crime. A recent California study compared the juvenile crime rates of counties that enforced curfew ordinances and counties that did not. The crime rates were the same. The curfews had no effect on juvenile crime.

2. Daytime curfews allow searches without probable cause. The Fourth Amendment forbids any investigation of a citizen without a "probable cause." The proposed ordinance allows policemen to stop and interrogate a person merely because he looks young enough to be violating the curfew. It is an invitation to harass homeschool families.

3. Daytime curfews assume a person is guilty until proven innocent. In several incidents where homeschool students were stopped by police, they had done nothing to arouse suspicion. There was no evidence they had committed a crime or intended to. Nonetheless, the police interrogated them and treated them like criminals until they had proved their innocence.

4. The ordinance allows some exceptions. Unfortunately, the only way for a policeman to determine if an exception applies is to stop and interrogate the frightened young person. By then the damage has already been done. The child may be afraid to go outdoors again. The right to homeschool includes the right to be free from fear--especially for young people, who are most vulnerable to feelings of fear.

5. The ordinance pressures homeschool families to follow the public school schedule. Those who dismiss their kids while public schools are in session could face harassment.

6. HSLDA and Families for Home Education are united in opposing this ordinance.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom in Missouri!

Sincerely,

Scott A. WoodruffHSLDA Senior Counsel

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